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F. J. A. PRATTE.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1919.

1 ,327 ,77 6. y Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

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TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JA-N. I6, 1919.

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FRANQOIS JOSEPH ANTGNIO PBATTE, Q33 MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNBR TO ALPHONSINE 1. PBATTE, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed January 16, 1919. Serial. No. 271,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FnAngois JOSEPH AN TONIC PnArrn, a British subject, residing in the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Talkingliiachinee; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

T he present invention relates to improvements in talking machines and consists particularly in the provision of two sound amplifiers arranged substantially at right angles to each other, one opening through the front of the casing of the machine in the usual way while the other projects downward and opens through the bottom of the casing. Means are also provided to alternate from one sound amplifier to the other as is preferred.

The invention further consists in the addition of a sound board adjacent said sound amplifiers and so connected thereto as to increase or amplify the resonance of the instrument.

The object of the invention is to provide a talking machine in which the vibrations may be heard directly from the sound amplifier through the usual opening in the front of the machine, or indirectly from the downwardly projecting sound amplifier. It may be noted that there will be a considerable diflerence in the intensity of the tone. The vibrations coming indirectly will naturally strike the floor, and the consequence will be that of modulating or diminishing the tone, as if it was heard from a distance, without of course altering the clearness or limpidity of the tone.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a resonant or vibrating member, commonly called sound board to increase the resonance as well as to prevent the vibrations from being abruptly interrupted, as often happens in high notes, particularly vocal notes.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved talking machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the talking machine, illustrating the device for manipulating the tone controlling means.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the two sound amplifiers and their connecting means.

Fig. i is an enlarged perspective view of the movable block provided for directing the vibrations from one sound amplifier to the other.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the talking machine casing or cabinet and 2 is the usual hinged top. A partition 3 is provided in, the upper portion of the cabinet on which are mounted the swinging tone arm 4; and the turn table 5, the former bearing the reproducer, and 6 is the usual motor, which is preferably secured below said partition 3 and actuates the turntable.

In the casing 1, preferably in the rear, an aperture 7 is provided and inside the cas ing adjacent said aperture is secured the sound board 8.

Below the partition 3, at a suitable distance, is provided another partition 9, and 10 are doors to close the lower open portion of the casing. Similar doors could also be provided between the two partitions if desired.

Between the partitions 3 and 9 is located the sound amplifier 11 which is suitably curved in order to avoid contact with the motor 6, and at its smaller or reduced end is provided a rectangular casing 12 having open ends and provided in its top and bot tom with the apertures 13 and 14L which are in alinement with one another and communicate with the sound amplifier and the tone arm 1 respectively. lhe said casing 12 is further provided with an aperture 15, preferably in one side, to which is connected the vertical downwardly projecting sound amplifier 16. This sound amplifier opens through the bottom of the casing 1.

Within said open end rectangular casing 12 a movable block or member 17 is provided, said member having a vertical hole or slot 18 adapted to register with the apertures 13 and 14, and 19 is a curved hole opening through the side of said member, and adapted to register with the apertures 15 and 13 when the said member is moved backward or forward as the case may be. Secured to said member 17 is a rod 20 which projects rearwardly through the casing 1, and at the end of which is provided a head 21.

It will readily be seen that on moving forward the member 17, the hole 18 will be brought into register both with the aperture 13 communicating with the tone arm a casing having a separate port in constant and with the aperture 14 communicating with the soundamplifier-ll, while if it is pulled back, the hole 19 will be caused to register with the aperture 15 communicating with the sound amplifier 16 and the aperture 18. A modulating attachment consisting in a disk '22 preferably of felt or any other suitable material is .pivotally secured over the aperture 13 by means of a cross bar or rod 23, one end of which is bent to provide a cranlg'and 24 is a wire which is secured thereto and projects through a tube 25 preferably secured to the side of the easing 12. The tube 25 may project through an opening 27 provided in the side of the casing 1 and 26 is a door for closing said opening when the modulator is not in use. At the end ofthe tube 25 is secured a handle 28, and 29 is a push or sliding lug which controls the wire 24: and causes the disk 22 to close or open at will. 7

It will however be clear that the important feature of the invention is the alternaand a controlling device intermediate the amplifiers and the tone arm and comprising communication with each amplifier and with the tone arm, and a member movable within the casing having a passage individual to each amplifier and adapted to register with the corresponding amplifier port in the casing, all of said passages being registrable with the tone arm port in said casing, whereby said member may be moved into position to connect anysel'ected amplifier with the tone arm. I

2. In a talking machine, the combination .Ofa tone arm; a plurality ofamplifiers and" a controlling device intermediate the amplifiers and the tone arm and comprising a casing having a separate port in constant communication with each amplifier and with" the tone arm; and a block slidable within 4.1 1 i. V 1; 1e casing and roimed with a slot individual to each amplifier and adapted to register immediately with the corresponding amplifier port in the casing, all of said slots be ing registrable immediately with the tone arm port in said casing, whereby said block may be moved into position to connect a selected amplifier port with the tone arm ort. p Signed at'Montreal, Quebec, Canada, this 13th day of July, 1918.

FRANQOIS OSEPH ANTONIO PRATTE, 

